Electric welding-tool



. l. C. RITCHEY AND F. G. WILLIAMS.

ELECTRIC WELDING TOOL.

APPLICATION msn APR. 11. 1920.

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ELECTRIC WELDING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I7, 1920.

Pna Nov. 23, 1920. v

, 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. RITCHEY AND FERRELL G. WILLIAMS, 0F BELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC WELDING-TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

Application flied April 17, 1920. Serial No. 374,518.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that we, JOHN C. RTTCHEY andFERRELL G. VILLIAMS, citizens of the United States, residing in Bellevuein the county of Allegheny and State of Igennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Electric lVelding- Tools, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric welding tools and more particularlyto that type of tool adapted to hold material to be welded to othermaterial.

An object of the invention is to provide an electric welding tool bywhich an electric arc is automatically drawn between material held bythe tool and material to which the first mentioned material is to bewelded.

Another object of the k invention is to provide an electric welding toolby which material held by the tool may be moved automatically apredetermined distance away from other material to which it is to bewelded to draw a suitable electric arc be-y tween such materials and bywhich the material held by the tool and heated by the arc may beautomatically moved into contact with the other material to cause suchmaterials to weld together.

' Another object of the invention is to provide an electric welding toolwith means for protecting the eyes and hands of an operator, as well asother nearby workmen, from the bright light and heat of the weld ingarc.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric welding toolwith an adjustable stop device by means of which the length of an arc tobe drawn between materials to be welded together, may be increased ordecreased.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric welding toolwhich, as described, is automatically cooled by air.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an electricalwelding tool having a novel material holding terminal.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like referencecharacters refer to like parts, Figure 1, is an end elevational view ofan electric welding tool constructed in accordance with the invention;Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same taken on the line2-2 of Fig. 1 such view being reduced in size; and Figs. 3, a, 5. 3 and7 are enlarged cross seclional Tie/ws taken on the lines 3 3, Lw-4, SM5,(SWG, and 7--7 respectively of Fig. Fig. Slis a detail 'View of aportion of the device for adjusting the stop member, and Figs. 9, 10 and11 are top side and end views respectively of the terminal portion ofthe tool.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference character 1indicates the casing of the welding tool which casing is made from anysuitable material that will not conduct electricity. This casing may bemade of any suitable form but as illustrated in the drawings preferablyVcomprises an annular body portion 2 having end portions 3 and l securedthereto, and also comprises a tubular portion 5 which is slidablyconnected with the end portion 3.

ithin the portion 2 of the casing an electromagnet 6, preferably of thesolenoid type is arranged. This electromagnet comprises a hollow member7 which is prefer ably made ofw brass, a member 8` which is preferablymade of soft annealed iron and is movable back and forth in the member7, and further comprises a coil 9 of suitable wire with insulation whichis wound around the member 7 in a sufficient number of layers, eachlayer of wire being separated from an adjacent layer by insulatingspacing strips 10, the ends of such strips being mounted in membersllwhich are arranged one at each end of the coil 9. The strips 10between each layer of wire are preferably spaced apart throughout thecoil, the spaces between the strips forming longitudinal ducts 12through which air may freely circulate. The members 11 are each providedwith openings 13 which are located between thel strips 10 of 4each layerand are adapted to permit the free circulation of air therethrough.Between each 'layer of wire and the adjacent strips 10, and between thefirst layer of wire and the member 7 yan insulating medium 1li isprovided which may be of any suitable material but in the presentembodiment of the invention is preferably varnished cambric.

The end portion 15 of the member 7 preferably extends` through andbeyond the member 11 at one end of the coil 9 and is provided with amember 16 made from any suitable insulating material and 1s preferablyof annular form, which member 1s secured to the member 7 through themedium of screw threads or any other suitable means. The end portion 17of the member 7 preferably extends through and beyond the member 11 atthe opposite end of the coil 9 and through and beyond thecasmg member 4,such casing member beingsecured to the member 7 through the medium ofscrew threads or any other suitable means. Between the member 11 andmember 16 at one end of the coil 9 and between the member 11 and thecasing member 4 at the opposite end of the coil 9 spacing members 18 areprovided which are adapt' ed to retain the coil 9, and members 11 intheir proper relative positions and at the same time provide spaces 19at the ends of the coil through which air may pass freely. The bodyportion 2 of the casing is provided with a plurality of perforations 2Othrough which air may freely pass to and from the space 19 at one endot' the coil 9, there being a notch 21 formed in the member 16 which isadapted to hold any dirt that may fall through the openings 20 and in ameasure prevent such dirt from entering the coil 9. The casing member 4is provided with a plurality of perforations 22 which lead to the space19 at the other end of the coil 9. through which openings air to andfrom such space may pass freely. It will be noted that the air heated bythe coil will escape through the openings 13 into the spaces 19 and fromsuch spaces through the perforations 20 and 22 of the parts 2 and 4respectively of the casing. It will be noted from theforegoing that asthe heated air escapes from the casing that cool air will be drawn intothe casing and coil and will thus keep the casing and electromagnet as awhole eompartively cool.

The end portion 23 of the wire from which the coil 9 is formed extendsthrough the member 11 at one end of the coil and through the member 16at the other end of the coil, and as .indicated by the referencecharacter 24, is secured to a ring 25 which ring is secured to themember 16. This ring 25 1s in turn electrically connected with a ring 26which is electrically connected with the welding member 27 of the tool.The electrical connection between the ring 25 and ring 26 beingpreferably made through the medium of a plurality of flexible electricwires 28, one end of each wire being secured to the ring 25 and theopposite end being secured to the ring l26. Both of these rings are madeof any material having the proper electrical conducting properties andtheir use is to assist in conducting the Velectric current from the coil9 to the weldderstood that these rings 25 and 26. and

wires 28 may be omitted and any other suitable conneetion directly fromthe coil 9 to welding member 27 may be substituted.

The inner end portion 29 of the welding member 27 is connected with oneof the end portions of the movable member 8 by a coupling 30 which. ismade of any preferred non-conducting material. This coupling ispreferably provided with a screw threaded portion 31 which is screwedinto a screw threaded socket formed in the member 8, and is furtherprovided with a screw threaded socket 32 into which the screw threadedportion of the welding member 27 is screwed, thus securingthe weldingmem'- ber 27 and the member 8 together and at the same time insulatingone from the other. This welding member 27 extends through a bushing 33which is secured to a portion 34- of the casing member 3, and alsoextends through a guide member which is secured to the casing member 5and at its outer end comprises a terminal portion 36. It will be notedthat the welding member 27 is movable relative to the bushing 33 andguide member 35 and that the casing member 5 and the guide member 35 aremovable rela tive to the member 27.

The casing member 5 is provided with longitudinally disposed grooves 37with which screws 38 or any other suitable means in the casing member 3are adapted to loosely engage to permit free longitudinal movement ofthe casing members 5 and 3 relative to each other. Between the casingmembers 3 and 5 a spring 39 is provided, one end of which is seated onthe guide member 35 and the opposite end is seated on the portion 34 ofthe casing member 3, which spring is adapted to force the casing member5 outwardly from the casing member 3 to a position as shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, and to provide suitable resistance to the operatorspressure required to holdthe with the sheathing.

The terminal 36 of the member 27 comprises a body portion 40 which isprovided with an unbroken end portion 41 having an opening 42 formedtherein for the reception of a nail 43 or any other material. Back ofthis end portion 41 a notch 44 is provided entire tool in contact 'inwhich a clamping member 45 is adapted to seat. The notched portion ofthe body 40 is provided with a groove 46 and the clamping member 45 isprovided with a groove 47, which are so shaped that, when the clampingnember is in its proper position in the notch 44 they form a.longitudinal opening for the reception of the nail 43 through thebushing or other material, which opening will substantially registerwith the opening 42 in the end portion 41. As illustrated in thedrawings this longitudinal opening is pret'- erably extended inwardlybeyond the clamping member 45 and it will be seen that when the nail isin its proper position in the longitudinal opening it will engage themetal forming this portion of the opening and will also to some extentengage the metal forming the opening 42 in the end portion 41 and willthus prevent any accidental movement of the nail relative to the terminal, and will insure the required electrical contact between the nailand the terminal. To hold the clamping member' 45 in its proper positionin the notch 44 and to insure a close contact between the member 45 andthe nail 43, a spring 48- is provided, one end of whichis secured to thebody portion 40 and the opposite end to the clamping member 45 and isadapted to exert pressure inwardly on this member at all times. Theinner end 49 of this terminal is secured to thel remainder of the member27 through the medium of screw threads or any other suitable means. Themember 27 has been illustrated i'n the drawings and describedhereinbefore as comprising a plurality of connected parts but it is tobe understood that this member may comprise a single integral member.The terminal 36 has been hereinbefore described as being adapted toreceive a nail or wire but it is to be understood that such terminal maybe made of a form to other shape.

To revent rotary movement of the member 27 relative to the casing, a pin50 is provided, one end of which is secured to the ring 26 and the otherend is extended 33 and engages therewithland by reason of thisengagement the member 27 is held in its proper position at all times.vThispin is mounted in the bushing 33 in such'a manner thatit is movablelongitudinally relative thereto 'thus permittin the member 27 to movelongitudinally.

he end portion 17 of the member 7 is provided with a handle portionwhichn is secured to the tool in any suitable manner. This handlepreferably comprises a yoke 51 which is secured to the end 17 ofv themem ber 7 by a member 52 and screws 53. Between the outer ends 54 of theyoke a hand portion 55 is provided in which a suitable lelectricalswitch 56 is mounted, such switch being operable by means of a ,pushbutton 57. By means of this switch, a swltch (not shown) remote from thetool is adapted to be controlled, such remotely controlled switch andcoil 9 being electrically connected by a wire 58.

Tithin the end portion 17 of the member 7 a. stop member 59 is providedwlth which hold material of any( one end of the member 8 is adapted toengage, and b f such engagement the movement of the mem er8 is limited.The end portion 6() of this member is provided with screw threads withwhich the screw threads formed on a rotatable member 61 are adapted tooperatively engage. The outer end of this member is provided with athumb nut 62 by means of which the member may be rotated, such nuthaving a screw member 63 mounted therein adapted to be moved into andout of engagement with perforations or indentations 64 in the yoke' 51.The underside of the thumb nut engages one surface of the yoke 51 andprevents iongitudinal movement of the member 61 in one direction,longitudinal movement in the opthe opposite side of the yoke. When it isdesired to adjust the travel of the member 8 the end of the member 63 isfirst raised out of one of the perforations 64, the thumb nut and member61 are then rotated which causes the stop member 59 to move backward orforward upon the member 61 until the space between the stop member andthe end of the member 8 has been increased or decreased a desired amountat which time the screw member 63 is lowered again into one of theperforations 64 thus locking the thumb nut 62 against accidentalrotation and holding the stop member in its preferred adjusted position.The stop member 59 is provided with a pin 66 which is rigidly securedrto such member and is preferably langular in cross section. One end ofthis pin passes` through an opening formed in a washer 67 which issecured 'to the end of the member 8. This opening 66 and of slightlygreater dimensions sothat the pin by its engagement with the 'washerwill be kept from turning thus preventing the stop member from rota-tingwhen the member 61 is rotated and at the same time permits the stopmember to move back or forth when it is being adjusted. It will beunderstood that instead of using the stop member and mechanism foroperating it just described and illustrated in the drawings any othersuitable device may be used which performs the same function.

Between the member 8 and the stop member 59 a spring 68l is interposedwhich is adapted to force the members 8 and 27 to their proper positionas illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This spring is coiled aroundthe pin 66 and is held in its proper position by this pin, and one endof the spring is seated on the washer 67 on the end of the member' 8while the other end is seated in the stop member 59.

The tool is electrically connected to one side of theline of anelectrical source of supply while the article to which another articleis to be welded is connected to the other side of the electrical supplyline. The source of supply and connections have not been illustrated inthe drawings as these devices are Well known in the art.

When it is desired to weld one metallic article to another article suchas a nail to the metallic sheathing of a railway car with the toolhereinbefore described, the operator inserts the nail 43 in the openingformed in the terminal 40 and then takes hold of the hand portion 55 ofthe handle with one hand and the casing member 5 with the other hand.The casing member 5 is then dra-wn back a sufficient distance for theoperator to see the head of the nail thus facilitating the placing ofsuch head in contact with the sheathin on the spot that the nail is tobe welded. he casing member is now released until it also contacts withthe sheathing then the nail is drawn away from the sheathing a shortdistance after which it is again advanced toward the sheathin until thehead contacts again with the sheathing at which time the operator ressesthe push button 57 of the switch. 56 w ich closes the electrical controlcircuit causinga switch remote from the tool to close the electricalwelding circuit from the electrical source of supply to the tool. Thislast mentioned circuit extends from the source of electrical supplythrough the remotely controlled switch thence through the wire 58, coil9,

^ ring 25, flexible connectors 28, ring 26, member 27, terminal 36, andnail 43, to the material to which the nail is to be welded and then tothe electrical source of supply by any suitable connections. When theremote switch is closed and the nail 43 is in con tact with thesheathing the electric current passes through the circuit justdescribed, which energizes the electromagnet causing the members 8 and27 and the nail to be Y' moved in a direction away from the sheathing,the movement of the member 8 causing the spring 68 to be compressed. Asthe nail 43 is drawn away from the sheathing an electric arc is struckbetween the head of the nail and the sheathing which arc heats the headof the nail and the sheathin at the spot to which the nail is to be weled, to a welding heat. As soon as the desired arc is drawn the operatorreleases the pressure on the push button 57 which causes the remotelycontrolled switch to break the circuit to the tool and at this time asthere is no electric current passing through the coil 9, theelectromagnet is no longer energized and the spring 68 forces themembers 8 and 27 toward the sheathing and the nail 43 against thesheathing and the weld is made. In some cases it may be found expedientto push the tool as a. whole toward the sheathing thus bringing the nailin close by said contact with the sheathing during the heating period.After the weld is made the operator draws the tool away from the nailand as he does this the spring 39 which has been compressed forces the'casing member outwardly to its normal position of rest. It will here benoted that the casing member 5, when a weld is being made, rotects theoperators eyes from the strong ight of the arc, and also protects hishands from the heat thereof, and further protects the e es and t e lightof the arc. It will here be noted that by the use of th'e hereinbeforedescribed stop member the arc drawn between articles to be Weldedtogether, may be readily lengthened or shortened. The operation of thetool as just described'is the referred operation and it will be seenthat t is operation may be altered in various ways.

It will be understood that many changes may be made in the arrangementand details of the parts of the tool without departting from the spiritand scope of the invenion.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l. In an electric welding tool, a member forloosely holding material to be welded to other material, and means forautomatically moving said member, the metal held member being adapted tobe withdrawn therefrom when the first mentioned metal is connected withthe second mentioned metal.

2. In an electric welding tool a member for loosely holding a metallicobject to be welded to another metallic object, and electromagneticmeans for moving said member, the metal held by said member beingadapted to be withdrawn therefrom when the first mentioned metal isconnected with the second mentioned metal. v

3. In an electric welding tool, a longitudinally movable member forholding a metallic object to be welded to another metallic object, andelectromagnetic means for moving longitudinally of the tool said memberand first mentioned object, and a flexible electric connection betweensaid electromagnet and member.

4. In an electric welding tool, a member for holding a metallic objectto be welded to another metallic object, means for causing said memberand first mentioned object to move away from the second mentioned objectwhen an electric current is applied, to strike an electric arc betweensaid ob- ]ects.

5. In an electric welding tool, a member for holding a metallic objectto be welded to another metallic object, means for causing said memberand first mentioned object to move longitudinally of the tool awaybodies of nearby workmen from from the second mentoned object when anelectric current is applied to strike an electric arc between saidobjects, and vmeans for adjusting the-movement of said object.

6. In an electric welding tool, a member for holding a metallic objectto be welded to another metallic object, means for' automatically movingsaid member, and a casing substantially inclosing said member an means,one portion of said casing bein l movable relative to the remainder ofsai casin0r and relative to said member.

7. -n an electric welding tool, a solenoid coil comprising a pluralityof layers of wire, spacers between said layers, said spacers beingspaced apart from each other to form air ductsthrough said coil, acasing for said tool inclosing said coil and having openings formedtherein communicating with said ducts for permitting circulation of airthrough said coil and casing.

8. In an electric welding tool, a member for holding material to bewelded to -other material, magnetic means for automatically moving saidmember and irst mentioned material away from the second mentionedmaterial, an adjustable stop member for limiting the movement .of saidmember, and means for holding said stop member in preferred adjustedposition.

9. In an electric welding tool, a member for holding material to bewelded to other material, and means for automatically moving said memberand first mentioned material backand forth in a direction longitudinallyof the tool and relative to the second mentioned material.

10. In an electric welding tool, a member for holding material to be.welded to other material, means for movi g the member and firstmentioned material longitudinally of the tool and away from the secondmentioned material, and means other than the first mentioned means formoving said member and material toward the second mentioned material. y

11. In an electric welding tool, a member for holding material to bewelded to other material, electrically operated means 'for moving thefirst mentioned material longitudinally of the tool away from the secondmentioned material, and means other than the first mentioned means formoving the first mentioned material longitudinally of the tool towardthe second mentioned material.

12. In an electric welding tool, a member v for holding material to bewelded to other material, electrical connections to said member, meansfor automatically drawing an arc between said materials when an elasticcurrent is applied to said tools and means for moving the `firstmentioned material into engagement with the second mentioned materialwhen the current iscut off, to Weld said materials together.

13. In an electric Welding tool, a casing, a solenoid in said casing, amember in sai casing movable by said solenoid, and means on said memberadapted to engage said casing to` prevent said member from rotating insaid casing.

14. In an electric welding tool, an electromagnet, a member for holdingmaterial to be welded to other material and a casing surrounding saidone portion of said casing being movable relative to the other portionof said casing and movable relative to said member.

15. In an electric welding tool, a member for holding material to bewelded to other material, said member being movable to draw an electricarc between said materials, and a casing for said tool having a movableportion adapted to cover the arc between said materials.

16. In an electric welding tool, a member for holding material to bewelded to other material, means 'for moving said member, a casing forsaid tool surrounding Ysaid member and means, said casing having aportion adapted to be moved to a position that it will coverthe firstmentioned material and the spot on the second mentioned material towhich the first mentioned material is to be welded. V

17. In an electric welding tool, means for drawing an arc between twoobjeotsto be welded together, and a casing member for said tool havingan automatically adjustable portion adapted to cover said arc.

` 18. In an electric welding tool, a solenoid coil having air ductsformed therein, a casing for 'said tool inclosing said coil, said casinghaving an opening formed therein communicating with said ducts forpermitting circulation of air through said coil and casing, and meansbetween said coil and casing1 for preventing dirt from entering said coi19. In an electric welding tool, a terminal having an unbroken endportion, said terminal having a notch formed therein back of said endportion, a member adapted to seat in said notch and means for holdingsaid member in said notch.

20. In an electric welding tool, a terminal having portion having anopening formed therein, a member adapted to seat in a notchiormed insaid terminal back of said end portion, said member and notched portionof said terminal having grooves formed therein, adapted to form anopening which will register with the opening in said end portion, saidopening being adapted to receive material to be welded, and means forholding said member in contact with said material,

electromagnet and member,'

an unbroken end portion, said end,

21. In an electric arc welding tool, an In testimony whereof we ax oursignauutonaticully adjustable shield for inclosing tures in the presenceof two witnesses.

the electric arc.

22. The combination with an electric weld- JOHN C' RITCHEY' 5 ing tool,capable of drawing an electric are, FERRELL G' WILLIAMS' of meanscarried by said tool and movable Witnesses: relative thereto forinclosing said arc to EDYTHE LAMBE,

confine the rays thereof. E. S. UTZLER.

